November Zoom Update

As we near Thanksgiving break, it is again time to ensure that your Zoom client is up to date in order to make sure you have the most recent bug fixes and the new features which Zoom has released this month! You will want to be sure to take the time to check for updates to the Zoom client even if you primarily utilize Zoom from the web- as Zoom accesses the on-device client in order to operate your camera, mic, and meeting controls, making it important to have the most recent version to ensure access to the most recent features and security settings.

More information on how to update your client can be found via Zoom’s support site:  Update your Zoom Client. Note, if you do not have the Zoom client pinned to your computer desktop or dock, you may need to follow these directions to locate the program on your computer.

New Feature for November: Focus Mode

Have you ever wished there were a way to see your students’ video while they are working on a quiet activity or test without all of your students also potentially being distracted by others’ feeds? If so, Focus Mode is the answer to your wish! This feature gives the host and co-hosts view of all participants’ videos without other participants seeing each other. This extends into screen sharing, giving the host and co-host the ability to quickly view something a participant has completed on their computer without revealing the answers to that tricky question others are still trying to solve (do note, audio is still shared so be careful not to verbally discuss any information that shouldn’t be shared by the group- if discussion needs to occur, direct IMs between the instructor and the participant in question can eliminate this potential overshare).

To enable or disable Focus mode for your own use:

1. Log in via the Zoom web portal.
2. On the left hand navigation panel, click Settings.
3. Click the Meeting tab.
4. Locate the In Meeting (Advanced) section and toggle Focus Mode on or off.
5. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.

To Turn Focus Mode On During a Meeting:

1. Start your meeting.
2. On the meeting toolbar, click More  .
3. Click Start Focus Mode.
4. Click Start to confirm, or select the Don’t ask me again check box to skip this confirmation going forward.
5. After Focus mode starts, participants are notified with a banner along the top of the video window. The focus mode icon (  ) will also be visible in the top-left corner of the video window, next to the encryption icon, if it is activated.

Once Focus mode has been started, participants in focus mode can only see the video of the host or co-hosts, their own video, and any participant whose video is spotlighted by the host or co-host. Otherwise, all participants will see are other participants’ names, their nonverbal feedback or reactions, and their audio.

Participants’ shared screens are only visible to the host and co-hosts, unless they select to broadcast the share to all participants. To do so:

1. Click the   detail to the right of the Share Screen .
2. In the Shared screens can be seen by section, click All participants.
3. When finished, to return to just host and co-hosts viewing shared content, select Host only.

To End Focus Mode:

1. On the meeting toolbard, click More .
2. Click Stop Focus Mode. 

Questions about Zoom? Contact ATSI.